Cross Rod Brind'Amour's Name Off Kraken Coaching List

The reunion of Ron Francis and Rod Brind'Amour many Seattle Kraken fans (and maybe Francis, too) were hoping for isn't happening.

As expected, Brind'Amour signed what's described as a multi-year contract extension on Saturday to remain head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes were eliminated Thursday by the New York Rangers in the 2nd round of this year's playoffs. Speculation immediately escalated about whether 'Canes owner Tom Dundon would reassess how much he wanted to pay to keep Brind'Amour.

The Toronto Sun, for example, ran this headline: "Let the Rod Brind’Amour coaching sweepstakes begin." After all, Carolina and its coach had failed to seal the deal on a new contract.

But Brind'Amour has been a member of the Hurricanes organization since 2000, as a player, assistant coach, and since 2018, head coach. He didn't want to leave, and his employer didn't want to lose him. In six seasons, he's compiled a 278-130-44 regular season record. His 'Canes teams have won a playoff round every postseason, and twice he's reached the conference finals.

That's what made him a coveted candidate for teams with vacancies like the Kraken, had Brind'Amour come on the market. Seattle general manager Francis has a longtime relationship with the coach, both as Carolina teammates and during Francis' time in the team's front office.

Next Steps In Kraken Coaching Search

With Brind'Amour staying put, and Craig Berube signing on to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs, Francis must continue his search to replace the fired Dave Hakstol.

Potential candidates include Dan Bylsma, running Seattle's AHL farm team in Coachella Valley; Kraken assistant Jay Leach; University of Denver NCAA-champion coach David Carle; plus a raft of other fired coaches and NHL assistants.

Before Toronto snagged Berube, TheScore.com ranked Seattle 4th out of the six landing spots for teams needing a new coach. The Kraken job was deemed more attractive than San Jose and Winnipeg, but less so than Los Angeles, Toronto, or New Jersey.

Pluses for a coach considering Seattle as a destination, according to TheScore.com : roster and farm system depth, Climate Pledge Arena, and the lack of a state income tax. Minuses include the absence of high-end talent, "unclear directon," and salary-cap limitations caused by goalie Philipp Grubauer's contract (three years remaining at $5.9 million AAV).

About that "unclear direction," the article says, "The Kraken are in NHL purgatory. They're not quite good enough to compete for a Stanley Cup but not quite bad enough to bottom out and secure an elite talent high in the draft."

However, Francis is credited with being "a patient, calculated GM who has built a solid farm system despite only having three draft classes to work with. The ownership group is wealthy and committed to winning."